How to Find Out If an Arrest Has Been Expunged in Tennessee

Expungement of a criminal record means that the criminal system of a state or the federal government considers an arrest or conviction as having never occurred. In certain instances, it is possible that expungement will not prevent the government from finding out about your criminal record. For example, if you are applying for a government position the government usually still has access to an expunged record. An online search with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation will allow you to quickly determine whether your arrest record has been properly expunged.

• 1

  Navigate to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation website. Click the "Background Checks" button on the right side of the website.

• 2

  Click the "Tennessee Open Records Information Services (TORIS)" link. Then, click the "Request a TN Criminal History Check Online" link.

• 3

  Click "Continue." Enter your name, address and other contact information and click "Submit Form." Enter the the name of the person whose criminal record you are searching. Pay the $29 fee, as of 2010, with a credit card. If no arrest records appear for the name, the record has been expunged.